This descriptive, analytic study about quality of life of adult patients
having lung cancer, submitted to ambulatorial chemotherapy intends to
contribute to better understand the impact caused by such a treatment in
the quality of life of these patients. As one reaches such an understanding
– and specially the health professional staff may find data to strengthen
their performance while attending them. Studies about life quality have
been done and awakes the attention of the professionals involved,
specially motivated by the increase of survival of the patients as they are
treated by the therapies used presently. The incidence of lung cancer has
grown during the last years and the precocious diagnosis finds some
problems due to the late appearance of symptoms, fact that produces
disturbances in the quality of life of the patients. The clinical and
demographical profile of the patients was made, a total of 72, and the
quality of life was evaluated before and after the first cycle of
chemotherapy. The multidimensional approach was utilized by means of a
generic instrument of measurement, proposed by the World Health
Organization, called WHOQOL – bref, created by the WHOQOL GROUP.
The investigation was undertaken in two ambulatorial services in São
Paulo City, between 2001 and 2002. The descriptive analysis of all
variables of the study was done as well as the comparison test between
two proportions when necessary. The WHOQOL – bref is constituted by
five domains, namely, 1- Physical; 2- Psychological; 3- Social
Relationships; 4- Environmental; and 5- General. By comparing the before
and after the therapy there was a significant statistical difference to
“worse” in the domain number 2 (Psychological). By making a comparison
according to sex, the masculine ones presented a significant statistical
difference to “worse” in domains 2 (Psychological) and 5 (General).
According to age there was a significant statistical difference to “better” in
domains 1 (Physical) and 4 (Environmental) for the patients below 60
years old; on the contrary, patients who were 60 or older presented
dissatisfaction with their quality of life in domains 2 (Psychological), 4
(Environmental ) and 5 (General). This descriptive, analytic study about quality of life of adult patients
having lung cancer, submitted to ambulatorial chemotherapy intends to
contribute to better understand the impact caused by such a treatment in
the quality of life of these patients. As one reaches such an understanding
– and specially the health professional staff may find data to strengthen
their performance while attending them. Studies about life quality have
been done and awakes the attention of the professionals involved,
specially motivated by the increase of survival of the patients as they are
treated by the therapies used presently. The incidence of lung cancer has
grown during the last years and the precocious diagnosis finds some
problems due to the late appearance of symptoms, fact that produces
disturbances in the quality of life of the patients. The clinical and
demographical profile of the patients was made, a total of 72, and the
quality of life was evaluated before and after the first cycle of
chemotherapy. The multidimensional approach was utilized by means of a
generic instrument of measurement, proposed by the World Health
Organization, called WHOQOL – bref, created by the WHOQOL GROUP.
The investigation was undertaken in two ambulatorial services in São
Paulo City, between 2001 and 2002. The descriptive analysis of all
variables of the study was done as well as the comparison test between
two proportions when necessary. The WHOQOL – bref is constituted by
five domains, namely, 1- Physical; 2- Psychological; 3- Social
Relationships; 4- Environmental; and 5- General. By comparing the before
and after the therapy there was a significant statistical difference to
“worse” in the domain number 2 (Psychological). By making a comparison
according to sex, the masculine ones presented a significant statistical
difference to “worse” in domains 2 (Psychological) and 5 (General).
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According to age there was a significant statistical difference to “better” in
domains 1 (Physical) and 4 (Environmental) for the patients below 60
years old; on the contrary, patients who were 60 or older presented
dissatisfaction with their quality of life in domains 2 (Psychological), 4
(Environmental ) and 5 (General).